The Battle of Antonov Airport, also known as the Battle of Hostomel Airport, took place at the Antonov Airport in Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast, during the Kyiv offensive of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On 24th February 2022, shortly after President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine, Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) launched an air assault on Antonov Airport with the objective of capturing it. The airport’s strategic location, less than 10 kilometers outside of Kyiv, made it valuable for airlifting additional troops and heavy equipment to directly threaten the city. However, the Ukrainian military launched a counter-attack, encircling the unsupported Russian forces and repelling the initial assault. The next day, the Russians resumed the attack with another air assault by the VDV and a ground assault by armored reinforcements from the Belarusian border. They broke through the Ukrainian defenses and captured the airport. Despite this, the unexpected Ukrainian resistance prevented a quick capitulation of Kyiv, and the airport suffered extensive damage, rendering it non-functional. The Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest airplane, was destroyed in its hangar during the battle.
Background:
Antonov Airport, also known as Hostomel Airport, is a major international cargo airport located in Hostomel, just outside the capital city of Kyiv, Ukraine. It was owned and operated by the Antonov State Enterprise, a Ukrainian state-owned aerospace and air defense company. The airport housed the only Antonov An-225 Mriya airplane in the world, and served as an airstrip for the Ukrainian Air Force.
Due to its proximity to Kyiv, around ten kilometers away, Hostomel Airport held strategic importance. Prior to the Russian invasion, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) obtained detailed information about Russian attack plans. CIA Director William J. Burns visited Ukraine in January 2022 and informed Ukrainian leadership that Russia intended to capture Antonov Airport for establishing an airbridge, enabling Russian forces to swiftly move into Kyiv and neutralize the government. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, based on information from Russian sources, learned that the invasion would commence on 24th February, with Antonov Airport as the main target. Analysts believed that the Russian leadership anticipated Ukraine’s disarray and collapse, allowing Russia to install a puppet government. However, the CIA’s warning, along with the intelligence from Denys Kireyev, a banker, helped the Ukrainian military prepare for the attack. The airport had a small garrison of approximately 300 National Guard troops, as most forces had been deployed to the eastern frontline. The Antonov State Enterprise initially obstructed the garrisoning and defense setup, but the airport was fully garrisoned by the Ukrainian military on 23rd February, a day before the Russian invasion.
On February 24, 2022, President Putin announced a “special military operation” aimed at “demilitarizing and denazifying” Ukraine. At around 5:30 am local time, a formation of 20 to 34 Russian helicopters arrived at Antonov Airport in Hostomel, a suburb of Kyiv, with the objective of securing the airport and creating an airbridge for the deployment of troops and equipment near Kyiv. The helicopter formation included Mi-8s carrying Russian airborne troops, potentially from the 11th Guards Air Assault Brigade and/or the 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade, escorted by Ka-52 attack helicopters. Videos captured by civilians and soldiers showed the Russian helicopters flying low along the Dnieper River and coming under fire from Ukrainian small arms and MANPADS. The Russian helicopters deployed flares to counter the attacks, but several were hit and crashed into the water. At least one Ka-52 was shot down, with its two pilots ejecting. The Ukrainian 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade intercepted the formation with five Mikoyan MiG-29s, reportedly shooting down two more helicopters and harassing Russian air support.
Upon arriving at Hostomel, the Russian helicopters launched rocket attacks on the airport to pave the way for the airborne landing. The initial rocket bombardment destroyed some Ukrainian air defenses precisely, leading Ukrainian officials to suspect the involvement of a Russian intelligence operative within the airport. However, the attack did not significantly weaken the Ukrainian defenses around the airport. The Russian airborne units disembarked and began capturing the airport. The Ukrainian defenders, consisting of approximately 300 poorly equipped soldiers, including inexperienced draftees, offered limited resistance. One Ukrainian national guardsman, Serhiy Falatyuk, shot down a Russian helicopter with a 9K38 Igla, boosting the morale of the conscripts. As the fighting intensified, the Ukrainian air defenses became more effective. The helicopter of Russian commander Capt. Ivan Boldyrev was hit and forced to make an emergency landing. With the arrival of more Russian paratroopers and their spread across the airport, the Ukrainian garrison was overwhelmed, leading to the capture of the airport by the Russian forces.
Despite overcoming the initial Ukrainian resistance, the Russian paratroopers continued to face opposition from armed civilians and the 3rd Special Purpose Regiment. The Ukrainians also launched heavy artillery bombardments on the airport. Ukrainian General Valery Zaluzhny recognized the threat posed by the Russian bridgehead in Hostomel and ordered the 72nd Mechanized Brigade under Col. Oleksandr Vdovychenko to launch a counter-attack. At a critical moment in the battle, the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade of the National Guard, supported by the Ukrainian Air Force, launched a large-scale counter-attack. The Russian forces, lacking armored vehicles, relied on air support to fend off the Ukrainian advances. Ukrainian warplanes, including at least two Su-24s and a MiG-29, provided air support alongside surviving Ukrainian aircraft. The Ukrainians quickly deployed reinforcements, including the Georgian Legion and a unit of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The ongoing battle prevented the Russian Il-76 strategic airlifters, carrying reinforcements, from landing at the airport, potentially forcing them to return to Russia.
Ukrainian military units surrounded the airport and pushed back the Russian forces by the evening, forcing the remaining Russian paratroopers to retreat to forests outside the airport. Mamuka Mamulashvili, the commander of the Georgian Legion, claimed that his men ran out of ammunition and resorted to using his car to run over retreating Russian paratroopers. The 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade later posted an image on their Facebook page, showing their soldiers celebrating the victory while holding a Ukrainian flag riddled with bullet holes.
During the opening phase of the battle, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest airplane, was present at the airport. Initially, an Antonov pilot confirmed that the aircraft remained intact despite the fighting. However, on February 27, a Ukroboronprom press release claimed that the Mriya had been destroyed by a Russian airstrike. On March 4, Russian state-owned television channel Channel One Russia aired footage confirming the destruction of the Mriya.
On February 25, 2022, Russian mechanized ground forces advancing from Belarus, combined with another air assault by the VDV (Russian airborne troops), took control of Antonov Airport after partially breaking through Ukrainian defenses at the Battle of Ivankiv. Although some of the armored vehicles were ambushed before reaching Hostomel, Russian reinforcements eventually entered the airport and assisted in expelling the Ukrainian defenders. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the capture of the airport involved around 200 helicopters and resulted in about 200 Ukrainian casualties with no casualties on the Russian side. However, this claim was met with skepticism, as eyewitnesses and journalists present at the battle disputed these numbers.
Initially, the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs denied that the airport had been fully captured by Russian forces, stating that it had been “changing hands” and that the battle was ongoing. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence declared that the airfield was too damaged to be used by Russian troops. However, later in the day, Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces were in control of the airport.
The battle for Antonov Airport was considered a failure for the Russian forces and described as a “Russian Airborne Disaster” by security analyst Andrew McGregor. The Russian intelligence had underestimated the concentration of Ukrainian defenders around the airport and expected only token resistance. The initial landing force was too small to hold the locality, and Russian forces were unable to secure air transport for reinforcements or prevent Ukrainian counter-attacks. This led to the destruction of the first landing force and prevented Russia from swiftly concluding the invasion.
The ability of the Ukrainian defenders to hold the airport for two days was seen as a significant factor in preventing a rapid capture of Kyiv by Russia. The battles for the airport and the city of Hostomel were described as breaking the back of the Russian assault on Kyiv. It showcased the failures of the Russian military during the invasion, including difficulties with main weapon systems, logistics, coordination, planning, leadership, and training.
While the fall of the airport was considered a major victory for the Russians, it also had negative consequences for the Ukrainian forces. Artillery fire aimed at the runway and disembarkation sites delayed the Russian landing and frustrated their plan to capture Kyiv. The airport served as a hub for storing equipment and housing troops, with Russian forces partially restoring the landing fields for aircraft use in the following days.
After the initial capture of Antonov Airport by Russian forces, Ukrainian forces continued to engage the Russian forces in the nearby town of Hostomel. Eyewitnesses recorded videos showing a Russian tank column burning in the distance, and Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters firing rockets at Russian positions. Ukrainian forces allegedly deployed BM-21 Grad rocket launchers in Kyiv to bombard Russian forces at the airport.
On February 26, the Ukrainian Alpha Group unit claimed to have destroyed a column of Russian armored vehicles near Hostomel. There were also reports that Russian Spetsnaz (special forces) had captured Ukrainian National Guard members and were wearing their uniforms. Ukrainian officials urged citizens and fighters to speak only in Ukrainian to help identify Russian saboteurs.
As of February 27, the airport remained under Russian control, but clashes started to shift to the towns of Bucha and Irpin to the south. Ukrainian forces claimed to have halted Russian advances and were engaged in intense fighting in Hostomel. The Security Service of Ukraine released an intercepted conversation of Russian forces in Hostomel reporting casualties and requesting evacuation. Ukrainian forces bombarded the airport with artillery and claimed to have destroyed Russian equipment, vehicles, and personnel.
In the following days, a Russian military convoy arrived at the airport in preparation for an assault on Kyiv. The airport was partially repaired but was not used as an airstrip. Instead, it served as a forward operating base, housing equipment and troops.
Satellite imagery as of March 28 showed no Russian forces inside the airport. On March 29, the Russian Deputy Minister of Defense announced a withdrawal of Russian forces from the Kyiv area, including the abandonment of Hostomel Airport.
By April 2, Ukrainian forces had regained control of the airport following a large-scale Russian withdrawal along the Kyiv axis. During their hasty retreat, Russian troops destroyed much of their own equipment, while some equipment was captured intact by the Ukrainians. Ukrainian artillery strikes had also destroyed Russian equipment prior to the withdrawal. Overall, Russia lost several armored fighting vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, anti-aircraft guns, field artillery pieces, helicopters, trucks, vehicles, and jeeps at Antonov Airport.